The Phantasmagorical Think Tank
The Phantasmagorical Think Tank
Scott & Matt
Scott and Matt put on their thinking caps and discuss the vast array of obscure, wondrous, and intellectual topics which the world has to offer. Did you know that some human languages are entirely whistled? Can an AI successfully masquerade as a human? Is morality objective or subjective? Join us as we dive deep into these questions and many more in The Phantasmagorical Think Tank.
30. Time Travel
How have different movies depicted time travel? How do they differ? Which is more plausible? Find out in this episode of The Phantasmagorical Think Tank. Time Travel in Doctor Who: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkmiefoRcfU&ab_channel=BBC Space and Time Flips in a Black Hole: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KePNhUJ2reI&ab_channel=PBSSpaceTime
Dec 22, 2020
26 min
29. Roko's Basilisk
The most terrifying thought experiment ever made! (Unless there's a flaw in the reasoning.) Slate: https://slate.com/technology/2014/07/rokos-basilisk-the-most-terrifying-thought-experiment-of-all-time.html Kyle Hill : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut-zGHLAVLI&ab_channel=KyleHill Less Wrong Wiki: https://wiki.lesswrong.com/wiki/Roko's_basilisk Rational Wiki: https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Roko%27s_basilisk Silicon Valley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUSt1d3M9NY&ab_channel=FunFuse
Sep 6, 2020
36 min
28. Bigfoot, Part 2
How did the legend of Bigfoot come to be? Is he real? Why do we love him so much? Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C8iiW--uX81YXsFcs0xmYl8bnZLU4GASgKbpWcDwkeA/edit?usp=sharing
Sep 4, 2020
27 min
27. Bigfoot, Part 1
How did the legend of Bigfoot come to be? Is he real? Why do we love him so much? Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C8iiW--uX81YXsFcs0xmYl8bnZLU4GASgKbpWcDwkeA/edit?usp=sharing
Sep 4, 2020
30 min
26. Voting Systems & Arrow's Impossibility Theorem
Is a perfect democracy mathematically possible? Bibliography TED-Ed on different voting systems: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaxVCsnox_4&ab_channel=TED-Ed PBS on Arrow's Impossibility Theorem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhVR7gFMKNg&ab_channel=PBSInfiniteSeries PBS on the Condorcet paradox: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoAnYQZrNrQ&ab_channel=PBSInfiniteSeries CGP Grey on problems with plurality voting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7tWHJfhiyo CGP Grey on single transferrable vote: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8XOZJkozfI The Guardian on political dissatisfaction: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/25/american-political-parties-democrats-republicans-representation-survey CNN on political dissatisfaction: https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/04/politics/two-party-system-poll/index.html Exploratorium on voting paradoxes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJag3vuG834&ab_channel=Exploratorium
Sep 4, 2020
31 min
25. Sleep and Dreams
Lucid dreaming, sleep paralysis, REM, biphasic sleep, and dream interpretation. How somniferous! Additional Resources Sleep Cycles: https://www.sleep.org/articles/what-happens-during-sleep/ Why Do We Need Sleep? https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/why-do-we-need-sleep Biphasic Sleep: https://academic.oup.com/ahr/article-abstract/106/2/343/64370?redirectedFrom=fulltext World's Most Relaxing Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXgqDlrqmzo Night School: Wake Up To The Power of Sleep: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1447248406/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1447248406&linkCode=as2&tag=httpricharcom-21 Why Do We Dream? https://www.healthline.com/health/why-do-we-dream#why-do-we-have-nightmares 9 Common Dreams And What They Supposedly Mean: https://www.verywellmind.com/understanding-your-dreams-2795935 Dream Dictionary: https://www.psychologistworld.com/dreams/dictionary/ The Science Behind Sleep Paralysis: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120711131030.htm What Is Sleep Paralysis? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/295039#what_is_sleep_paralysis Koalas Sleep 17 Hours Per Day: https://www.livescience.com/27401-koalas-facts.html
Jul 24, 2020
37 min
24. Ludonarrative Dissonance
Are video games an art form? What makes the art of video games unique? Folding Ideas presents LND: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04zaTjuV60A ChronoThoughts misunderstands LND (in our opinion): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqQ-mD1LlAs Errant Signal criticizes LND: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBN3R0m31bA Game Revo defends LND: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lluvrus0QY0 SolePorpoise specifies LND: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8PAWO4Y_rY Games as Literature inverts LND: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9fm7gtgW8U Clint Hocking with the article that started it all: https://clicknothing.typepad.com/click_nothing/2007/10/ludonarrative-d.html Folding Ideas discusses intended play: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHmivGmkjJw Theme music is "Levitation" by Mabeha. Listen to the track here: https://open.spotify.com/track/0YS8xR9oPMtUvQj3C4wKHZ?si=jz4eZ9fWTE6F-Wrdl7rb9A
Jul 10, 2020
33 min
23. Ganzfeld Hallucinations
A totally safe, drug-free way to hallucinate in the comfort of your own home! Spooky, but enjoyable! Additional Resources How to Hallucinate with Ping Pong Balls (BBC): https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20180124-how-to-hallucinate-with-ping-pong-balls Ganzfeld Reactions (Mulattolee Videography): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-loHQ0RfQqM More Ganzfeld Reactions (Spartan G695) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9qtI6lTwgo Changing Your Brain State Through the Ganzfeld Effect (PsychReg): https://www.psychreg.org/ganzfeld-effect/ Theme music is "Levitation" by Mabeha. Listen to the track here: https://open.spotify.com/track/0YS8xR9oPMtUvQj3C4wKHZ?si=jz4eZ9fWTE6F-Wrdl7rb9A
Jul 10, 2020
24 min
22. Conway's Game of Life
A bizarre, complex, and beautiful world created by simple math. Additional Resources Play with it here: https://bitstorm.org/gameoflife/ Stephen Hawking discusses the Game of Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgOcEZinQ2I The Chinese Room Argument: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/chinese-room/ Planck Time: https://www.universetoday.com/79418/planck-time/ The Acorn: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/Acorn The R-Pentomino: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/R-pentomino Gosper Glider Gun: https://www.conwaylife.com/wiki/Gosper_glider_gun Theme music is "Levitation" by Mabeha. Listen to the track here: https://open.spotify.com/track/0YS8xR9oPMtUvQj3C4wKHZ?si=jz4eZ9fWTE6F-Wrdl7rb9A
Jul 9, 2020
29 min
21. The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
New words to describe our complex emotions Additional Resources The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows: https://www.dictionaryofobscuresorrows.com/ Sonder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkoML0_FiV4 Theme music is "Levitation" by Mabeha. Listen to the track here: https://open.spotify.com/track/0YS8xR9oPMtUvQj3C4wKHZ?si=jz4eZ9fWTE6F-Wrdl7rb9A
Jul 8, 2020
32 min
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